Back to the jungle

That is the gist of Season 5 of one of television’s top-rated shows. At the end of Season 4,we find out that the island has a mechanism that can be used to transport it to another time and place. That’s what makes it so special and that’s why the sinister millionaire Charles Widmore will do anything—including massacring the survivors—to take control of it.

In Season 5,we see the Oceanic Six (as they’re called on the show) swear never to tell anyone the truth about what happened on the island,so that they can protect those they left behind. So when we meet Jack,Kate,Hurley,Sayid and Sun,they’re being approached by Ben to return to the island. Locke is now apparently dead and somebody,presumably Widmore,knows that the Oceanic Six are lying and is trying to find the location of the island. This is also the season when we get a clearer glimpse of all those with vested interest in the island and its fate,the Dharma project,the mercurial Others and the ageless Richard Alpert. In one surprising revelation,we’ll also see how Widmore came to know of the island’s existence.

Who’s in it?While Mathew Fox,who plays Jack Shephard and Evangeline Lilly,who plays Kate Austen,continue to be the nominal leads,the show was stolen long ago by Michael Emerson who plays the untrustworthy but charismatic Benjamin Linus. The delightful Ben gets plenty of screen time,as does the new villain of the piece,Charles Widmore,wonderfully played by Alan Dale,with great arrogance and brooding evil. In fact,in one of the flashbacks,the young Widmore is played by Tom Connolly,who also manages to essay the ruthlessness which we,as viewers know,the character will eventually show.

What’s hot?Firstly,the action goes back to the island. We missed the lush green jungles and the breathless chase sequences that marked the first two seasons. Secondly,and more importantly,we’re getting a clearer picture of what the island is. We still don’t know how long the Others have been protecting the island or why the Dharma Initiative was not as benign as we first thought,but this season will,hopefully make all these matters much clearer.

What’s not?The publicity material for this season says “It’s all in Hurley’s head. Or is it?” One is almost tempted to believe that. Of course,it would be dampening if such a tame explanation were to be put forward and even those who’ve stuck with the show,through all its extensions,might be tempted to finally write it off. Sometimes,it seems like the writers are stretching the viewers’ ability to digest the incredible just a wee bit too far. Many of the plot twists — the island as a time machine — seem so contrived that an impatient viewer might be completely put off.

Should you be watching it?It really makes little sense for first time viewers to watch this incredibly dense show at this point. If you do want to start,start at the beginning. Old timers will,of course,want to continue watching the show which remains as engaging as ever.